i_a  w?  _ 

X K e.) , 

A LETTER, 


ADDRESSED  TO  THE 


PRESIDENT  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES, 


ON  THE  EXISTING 


DIPLOMATIC  RELATIONS  WITH  JAPAN. 


By  Mr.  THOMAS  WALSH, 


A MEMBER  OF  THE  CHAMBER  OF  COMMERCE  OF  NEW-TORK. 


PRINTED  BY  THE  ORDER  OF  THE  CHAMBER, 


JOHN  W.  AMEEMAN,  PRINTER, 
No.  41  Cedar  Street. 


Digitized  by  the  Internet  Archive 
in  2017  with  funding  from 
Columbia  University  Libraries 


https://archive.org/details/lettertopresidenOOwals 


A LETTER, 


ADDRESSED  TO  THE 

PRESIDENT  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES, 


ON  THE  EXISTING 

DIPLOMATIC  KELATIONS  WITH  JAPAN. 


By  Mr.  THOMAS  WALSH, 


A MEMBER  OF  THE  CHAMBER  OF  COMMERCE  OF  NEW-TORK. 


* 


PRINTED  BY  THE  ORDER  OF  THE  CHAT^IBER. 


JOHN  W.  AMEKMAN,  PRINTER, 
No.  41  Cedar  Street. 


isn. 


The  following  letter,  addressed  to  the  President  of  the  United  States,  on  the 
existing  Diplomatic  Relations  with  Japan,  by  Mr.  Thomas  Walsh,  a member 
of  the  Chamber  of  Commerce,  was  presented  to  the  Chamber,  at  its  meeting 
held  December  7th,  1871,  and  ordered  to  be  printed  for  distribution. 


A.  LETTER, 

ADDRESSED  TO  THE 

PRESIDENT  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES, 

ON  THE  EXISTING 

DIPLOMATIC  RELATIONS  WITH  JAPAN. 

By  Mr.  THOMAS  'WALSH, 

A MESLBER  OP  THE  CHAMBER  OP  COMMERCE  OP  NEW-TORK. 


New-York,  November  1th,  18 VI. 

Sir, — In  accordance  with  the  wish  expressed  by  you,  at  the  in- 
terview with  which  you  honored  me  last  week,  I now  submit  to  you 
some  observations  on  American  relations  with  Japan. 

Our  commercial  intercourse  with  that  country  began  in  1858.  At 
that  date,  and  for  some  years  afterwards,  foreigners  knew  but  little 
about  the  country,  the  peculiarities  of  its  government,  or  tlie  char- 
acter of  its  people.  It  may  be  said,  thei-efore,  that  all  the  Western 
Powers  entered  Japan  equally  ignorant  on  their  own  part,  and 
equally  under  suspicion  on  the  part  of  the  Japanese. 

The  United  States  had,  however,  the  advantage  of  priority 
among  those  to  whom  that  long-closed  land  was  opened ; and  as 
the  Japanese  learned  that  our  nation  had  no  other  aim  than  to  cul- 
tivate profitable  commerce  with  them,  and  that  intercourse  with 
us  involved  no  danger  to  their  independence,  they  soon  manifested 
a special  good  will  towards  Americans.  This  disposition  our  first 
minister,  Mr.  Townsend  Harris,  endeavored  to  foster,  and  he  was 
so  far  successful  that,  up  to  the  time  of  his  retirement,  (1862,)  his 
counsel  was  preferred  to  that  of  any  other  foreign  representative; 
and  American  influence  surpassed  that  of  any  foreign  nation.  The 
Japanese  learned  to  trust  him  and  his  countrymen,  and  to  feel  that 


4 


in  them  they  had  friends  who  were,  as  a rule,  honorable  and  consid- 
erate, both  in  their  dealings  and  in  their  conduct. 

The  result  of  this  cordiality  of  feeling  was,  that  American  com- 
merce grew  rapidly,  and  although  our  commercial  establishments 
were  soon  outnumbered  by  the  English  and  other  Europeans,  who 
controlled  more  capital,  and  supplied  a greater  variety  of  useful 
imports  than  we  could  furnish,  yet  American  merchants  succeeded, 
by  means  of  intelligent  enterprise  and  friendly  behavior,  in  acquir- 
ing a larger  proportion  of  the  foreign  trade  of  Jai^an,  than  their 
numbers  or  their  capital  alone  would  have  enabled  them  to  command. 

Had  our  Government  fairly  appreciated  the  importance  of  main- 
taining this  state  of  things,  we  should  not  now  have  to  deplore  the 
decline  of  American  influence  in  a country  where  alone,  amid  all 
the  vast  and  populous  East,  that  influence  had  ever  been  distinctly 
felt  or  acknowledged.  But  our  civil  war,  and  the  concentration  of 
attention  upon  domestic  affairs,  which  it  required,  led  to  a neglect 
of  American  interests  in  Japan,  which  afforded  our  EurojDean  rivals 
an  opportunity  that  they  were  not  slow  to  seize. 

England  and  France,  fresh  from  the  conquest  of  China,  had 
quickly  followed  the  United  States  to  the  doors  of  Japan,  and  had 
easily  obtained  entrance  there  on  the  same  conditions.  Jealous  of 
each  other,  and  anxious  to  extend  their  commerce  and  their  influ- 
ence, they  soon  j^erceived  the  necessity  of  nourishing,  in  everyway, 
their  relations  with  a land  which  was  known  to  be  the  most  popu- 
lous, the  most  productive  and  the  most  highly  developed  of  any 
country  on  the  Pacific,  and  which  was  likely,  at  no  very  distant  day, 
to  become  of  serious  importance  to  whoever  should  seek  to  dominate 
that  great  ocean. 

Accordingly,  these  powers  hastened  to  induce  their  great  steam- 
ship companies,  by  liberal  subsidies,  to  establish  mail  lines  to  Japan, 
and  took  care  to  send  there,  as  ministers  and  consuls,  able  and 
earnest  men,  instructed  both  by  special  training  and  by  special  orders, 
to  advance  their  nation’s  interests  on  every  occasion,  and  to  obtain 
the  greatest  possible  power  and  influence  in  that  rich  and  virgin 
field. 

Great  Britain  showed  special  energy  in  this  effort,  and  through 
her  efficient  consulates  at  every  port,  and  her  liberally  appointed 
legation  at  the  capital,  diligently  investigated  the  nature  of  the 
government,  the  character  and  habits  of  the  people  and  the  re- 
sources of -the  country.  Each  consulate  had  its  students,  whose 
duty  it  was  to  learn  the  language  and  explore  the  productions  of  the 


5 


consular  district.  The  frequent  and  elaborate  reports  of  these 
agencies  guided  the  Minister  in  his  action,  and  enabled  him  contin- 
ually to  enlighten  his  Government  in  regard  to  the  organization, 
capacities  and  disposition  of  the  Japanese  nation.  The  Legation 
itself  was  also  furnished  Avith  a numerous  corps  of  highly  educated 
and  ambitious  attaches,  required  to  study  the  language,  and  ac- 
quaint themselves  with  the  character  and  customs  of  the  people, 
and  stimulated  to  diligence  therein  by  promises  of  preferment  and 
the  hope  of  permanent  employment.  A numerous  and  active  naval 
squadron  came  to  aid  the  civil  officers,  by  explorations  of  the  coast, 
by  observations  at  ports  not  open  to  consuls  or  to  merchant  vessels, 
and  by  the  impression  of  power  and  interest  Avhich  such  a force,  and 
such  a use  of  it,  were  certain  to  produce  on  the  Japanese  mind. 
Some  exceptional  attacks  upon  Englishmen  were  also  availed  of  to 
debark  at  Yokahama  a strong  military  force,  which  not  only  contri- 
buted to  deepen  this  impression,  but  by  the  excursions,  investiga- 
tions and  reports  of  its  officers,  rendered  valuable  aid  to  the  Minis- 
ter in  his  efforts  to  understand  and  influence  the  politics  of  the 
country. 

By  means  of  such  agencies,  all  of  which  are  still  in  full  activity, 
and  by  the  operations  of  a numerous  and  wealthy  body  of  mer- 
chants, having  the  great  advantage  of  being  able  to  import  many 
useful  articles,  not  purchasable  in  America,  on  account  of  the  high 
cost  of  production  there.  Great  Britain  has  steadily  gained 
ascendancy  in  a country,  which,  of  all  others  in  the  Eastern  world, 
most  leaned  towards  the  United  States;  Avhich  is  our  nearer  neigh- 
bor, and  which  is  destined  herself  to  be  a great  naval  and  commer- 
cial power  on  the  Pacific  Ocean. 

Thus  has  Great  Britain  profited  by  the  absorption  of  American 
energies  in  our  civil  war ; by  the  burdens  which  that  struggle 
imposed  on  our  exporting  power ; and  by  the  resulting  decline  of 
our  Eastern  commerce,  to  take  precedence  of  us  in  the  most 
inviting  foreign  field  which  has  ever  been  opened  to  American 
enterprise. 

It  was  but  a natural  consequence  of  the  possession  of  such 
advantages,  that,  at  the  crisis  of  the  Japanese  Revolution  of  1868, 
which  re-established  in  that  country  a pure  monarchical  government 
in  place  of  the  feudal  organization  that  had  previously  existed,  the 
intelligence  and  power  of  the  British  minister  succeeded  in  turning 
the  scale  in  favor  of  the  party  which  he  jjreferred,  and  in  fastening 


6 


upon  it  an  obligation  to  advance  the  interests  which  he  so  ably 
represents. 

France  has  hitherto  failed,  through  her  national  peculiarities,  to 
attain  the  same  advantage  in  Japan  as  England.  But,  nevertheless, 
her  position  there  is  superior  to  that  of  the  United  States,  by  reason 
of  the  more  ample  representation  which  she  maintains.  What  she 
may  lack  in  her  commerce  or  her  consulates,  is  compensated  by  the 
energy,  ubiquity  and  devotion  of  her  missionaries  and  proteges ; 
and  she  has  not  omitted  to  imitate  her  great  rival  in  lodging  a 
considerable  military  force  in  Japanese  territory;  in  maintaining  a 
formidable  fleet  in  Japanese  waters ; and  in  furnishing  her  legation 
at  Yedo  with  an  efficient  staflP,  who  keej^  it  fully  informed  of  all 
that  occurs. 

Germany,  also,  has  not  neglected  her  opportunity,  but,  even 
during  her  recent  great  Avar,  kept  at  Yedo  a Avell  appointed 
legation,  led  by  a most  astute  and  accomjflished  minister,  and 
supported  by  an  active  and  patriotic  corps  of  attaches  and 
consuls. 

Italy,  Holland,  Belgium,  Spain  and  other  European  nations  are 
also  now  in  the  field,  and  though  they  do  not  ^jretend  to  vie  Avith 
the  three  greater  poAvers,  and  have  but  little  commerce  to  protect, 
yet  they  maintain  legations  ; and  having  naturally  more  sympathy 
Avith  European  than  Avith  American  interests,  frequently  combine 
adversely  to  the  latter,  rendering  the  efforts  of  the  United  States 
rejn’esentatiA’es  so  much  the  more  difficult  and  laborious. 

It  is,  sir,  as  you  may  readily  conceive,  no  slight  mortification  to 
an  American  citizen,  anxious  that  his  country  should  occupy  in 
Japan  the  position  to  Avhich,  for  so  many  reasons,  she  is  clearly 
entitled,  to  find  himself  obliged  to  declare  that,  having  had  so  fair 
an  opportunity  to  secure  it,  she  has  Avell  nigh  lost  it  by  sheer 
indifference.  Yet  such  must  be  the  conviction  of  every  one  Avho 
has  traced  American  intercourse  Avith  that  rising  and  well-disj^osed 
nation. 

It  is  true  that  the  Japanese  continue  still  friendly  to  Americans ; 
that  Avheu  they  feel  free  to  choose,  they  like  to  employ  Americans  to 
aid  them  in  their  efforts  to  acquire  consideration  among  the  nations; 
that  they  send  many  of  their  youths  to  study  in  American  schools, 
and  that  they  desire  to  extend  their  commerce  with  us.  But  it 
should  be  remembered  that  they  are  still  feeble  in  force,  inexperi- 
enced in  international  affairs,  and  dependent  in  a large  measure 
upon  the  knoAvledge  and  good  Avill  of  Western  nations  for  assistance 


7 


to  attain  the  position  to  which  they  aspire.  Under  such  circum- 
stances, the  qualifications  and  status  of  the  Western  representatives 
in  Japan,  have  a peculiar  weight  and  value. 

It  is  far  from  my  intention  to  reflect,  in  the  least  degree,  upon  the 
present  representative  of  the  United  States  in  that  country.  On 
the  contrary,  I think  Mr.  DeLong  well  qualified  for  his  post, 
thoroughly  in  earnest  in  the  discharge  of  his  duties,  extraordinarily 
industrious,  and  of  a temperament  and  character  which  entitle  him 
to  the  esteem  of  all  who  know  him.  And  I am  assured  that  the 
Japanese  like  and  respect  him,  while  I have  had  personal  experience 
of  his  zeal  to  promote  and  defend  American  interests.  But  he  is 
under  great  disadvantages  compared  with  his  principal  colleagues. 
While  they  have  attaches  who  are  familiar  with  the  Japanese 
language,  and  therefore  qualified  to  interpret  correctly  and  skill- 
fully ; who  mingle  freely  with  the  moi’e  intelligent  Japanese,  and 
thereby  obtain  valuable  information  ; who  study  the  literature  and 
laws  of  the  country,  and  so  become  acquainted  with  the  ideas  and 
institutions  with  which  they  have  to  deal,  the  United  States 
minister  has,  or  very  recently  had,  neither  secretary,  clerk,  inter- 
preter nor  attache  to  aid  him  in  the  duties  of  his  oftice,  but  was 
obliged  to  do  every  part  of  those  duties  himself,  even  to  the  copying 
of  his  OAvn  despatches. 

It  is  evident  that  a minister  so  situated,  charged  with  the  various 
interests  of  a great  nation,  and  having  often  to  act  not  only  as  a 
magistrate  in  respect  to  his  fellow  citizens,  but  also  (owing  to  the 
peculiarities  of  Japanese  tribunals)  as  their  only  defender  in  their 
controversies,  cannot  possibly  perform  the  duties  of  his  ofiice  with 
any  satisfaction  to  himself,  and  cannot  possibly  equal  his  colleagues 
in  diplomatic  affairs.  Mr.  DeLoxg  feels  this  very  keenly,  and  has 
written  to  the  Government  about  it.  His  desire  to  serve  his 
country  has  hitherto  sustained  him  in  a position  which  is  not  less 
painful  to  him  than  it  is  unworthy  the  American  nation.  But  he  is 
obliged  to  recognise  the  fact,  that  day  by  day,  his  colleagues,  by 
means  of  their  better  information  and  better  service,  gain  prece- 
dence of  him,  and  that  he  cannot  cope  Avith  them. 

Private  interests  are  not  here  in  question.  They  suflfer  with  all 
other  American  interests,  by  the  disabilities  of  the  American  Legation ; 
but  our  citizens  in  Japan  and  elsewhere  have  a habit  of  overcoming 
difficulties  which  has,  thus  far,  enabled  them  to  maintain  their  com- 
mercial position,  despite  their  disadvantages.  Nor  shall  I dAveil 
upon  the  fact  that  the  Japanese,  in  constructing  their  rail-roads. 


8 


coast  lights,  telegraphs,  canals,  docks,  and  other  improvements, 
in  all  which  they  require  foreign  assistance,  have  found  themselves 
almost  obliged  to  employ  Europeans,  when  they  might  have  pre- 
ferred Americans.  It  matters  little  what  may  be  the  nationality  of 
the  men  who  thus  promote  progress  in  Japan.  But  these  employees 
serve  as  sources  of  information,  and  as  active  political  missionaries 
for  their  own  countries,  and  are  of  no  small  consequence  in  these 
respects.  It  is,  therefore,  of  moment,  that  our  country  should  be 
fairly  represented  among  them. 

But  the  greater  question  is,  can  the  United  States  afford  to  main- 
tain their  present  attitude  of  indifference  to  a nation  consisting  of 
nearly  thirty-five  millions  of  civilized,  ingenious  and  productive 
people,  our  nearest  Oriental  neighbors,  with  whom  we  have 
already  a trade  of  many  millions  per  annum,  and  who  are  inclined 
to  develop  commercial  and  friendly  relations  with  us?  Is  it  not 
important  to  us,  in  view  of  our  future  on  the  Pacific,  to  convince 
this  peojjle  that  we  are  interested  in  them,  and  sincerely  desirous  to 
understand  them,  and  to  cultivate  their  good  opinion  ? Ought  not 
the  republic  to  feel  and  manifest  an  earnest  concern  in  the  awakened 
activity  of  so  numerous  and  highly  organized  a nation,  dwelling  in 
the  only  ocean  where  the  American  flag  is  still  eminent  ? It  is  but 
twelve  years  since  our  commerce  with  Japan  commenced,  and  it  has 
had  to  contend  with  many  hindrances.  Yet  to-day  that  commerce, 
deprived  though  it  is  of  any  aid  from  American  exports,  exceeds  in 
value  our  whole  commerce  with  either  Russia,  Austria,  or  Portugal, 
countries  where  Ave  maintain  tolerably  well-equijDped  legations, 
though  we  have  neither  reason  nor  desire  to  obtain  special  advan- 
tages among  their  people. 

I recognise  the  wisdom  of  Congress  in  recently  raising  the  Ameri- 
can Mission  in  Japan  to  equal  rank  with  the  Missions  of  the  Euro- 
pean poAvers. 

But  much  more  is  requisite  to  enable  us  to  recover  the  ground 
Avhich  our  indifference  has  ceded  to  our  ever  watchful  competitors. 
The  Minister  of  the  United  States  should  not  have  to  depend  for  his 
information  upon  what  he  can  gather  from  his  colleagues,  or  from 
the  local  newspapers,  (all  under  British  management,)  or  from  his 
mercantile  friends,  or  from  his  native  servants,  (often  but  spies.) 
Nor  should  he  haAm  to  rely  for  his  interpreters,  as  he  does 
now,  upon  missionary  volunteers,  who  knoAV  little  of  diplomatic 
language,  nor  upon  chance  scholars  in  merchants’  offices,  nor 
npon  the  timid  and  obsequious  native  employees  of  the  Japanese 


9 


Government,  who  may  betray  him.  He  should  have  a stalF  of  his 
own,  whose  members  he  could  trust,  and  through  whom  he  could 
conduct  his  business  in  an  intelligent  and  efficient  manner,  which 
would  impress  upon  the  Japanese  that  this  republic  is  not  less  con- 
cerned in  its  foreign  affairs,  than  are  the  monarchies  of  Europe ; 
that  it  is  jealous  of  its  reputation,  and  careful  of  its  interests  in  Ja- 
pan, and  that  it  can  afford  to  maintain  its  dignity  there. 

And  this  amelioration  would  not  cost  much.  Young  Americans, 
of  good  character  and  complete  education,  could  he  gathered  from 
our  colleges  and  schools,  who  would  be  glad  of  the  chance  of  a career 
which  Government  employment  would  open  to  them.  Merchants 
obtain  such  men  without  difficulty,  and  think  them  indispensable  to 
their  business.  By  the  appropriation  of  not  over  twenty  thousand 
dollars  annually  for  student  assistants  to  the  legation  and  consulates 
in  Japan,  and  the  selection  of  young  men  of  suitable  character  and 
ambition,  a corps  of  useful  attaches  would  be  provided,  whose  ac- 
quirements and  service  would  soon  be  worth  to  our  national  interests 
and  influence  far  more  than  the  small  sum  required  to  maintain 
them.  If  possible,  some  assurance  should  be  given,  (as  is  done  in 
Great  Britain,)  that  attainments  and  services  would  be  appreciated 
and  rewarded  by  promotion  in  office  in  Japan.  But  even  if  so  just 
and  stimulating  a measure  should  be  impracticable  at  jwesent,  the 
plan  proposed  would  secure  to  the  Government  some  very  useful 
servants,  and  would  ere  long  redeem  our  legation  in  Japan  from  its 
present  unfortunate  and  discredita,ble  condition. 

It  will  probably  be  objected  to  these  suggestions,  that  the  United 
States  desire  no  special  jiolitical  influence  in  Japan;  that  our  inter- 
ests there  are  purely  commercial ; and  that,  if  our  merchants  there 
contrive  to  prosper  under  existing  circumstances,  no  change  is 
necessary. 

But  the  obvious  answer  to  these  narrow  objections  is,  that  the 
progress  Avhich  Japan  is  now  rapidly  making,  her  important  position 
and  probable  future  influence  on  the  Pacific,  and  her  vicinity  to  us, 
require  us  at  least  to  understand  her  institutions  and  her  policy, 
and  to  cultivate  her  friendship ; and  that  Ave  are  not  likely  to  do 
this  by  adherence  to  our  present  system,  nor  Avithout  some  such 
improvement  as  I have  suggested. 

I regret,  sir,  that  eAmn  this  imperfect  statement  of  the  case  should 
have  obliged  me  to  occupy  your  attention  with  so  long  a letter. 
But  I have  desired  to  avail  myself  of  your  invitation  to  describe  the 
condition  of  American  interests  in  Japan  as  clearly  and  as  fully  as 


10 


possil^le,  feeling  that  the  moment  is  critical,  and  that  unless  some- 
thing be  soon  done  to  increase  the  efficiency,  and  improve  the  stand- 
ing of  our'representation  in  that  country,  most  of  the  advantages  of 
our  geographical  relation  to  it,  and  most  of  the  fruits  of  the  costly 
expedition  from  the  United  States,  which  opened  it  to  the  world, 
will  he  irretrievably  lost. 

I am,  sir,  your  most  obedient  servant, 

Thomas  Walsh. 


To  his  Excellency, 

The  President  of  the  United  States. 


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